O-H… Swisher Grand Slam Wins It In 10th; Indians 5, Angels 3

Tuesday night Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels exploded for four homeruns in a 9-3 route of the Cleveland Indians. Following the loss, Thursday’s game plan included two things; keep the Angels and Trout in the ballpark and get Nick Swisher, 2-20 (.200) since returning from the 15-day disabled list, going. The Indians did both. Trailing 3-1 in the 10th inning, Mr. Brohio smashed a walk-off grand slam over the right field wall to give the Indians a 5-3 victory and series win over the Angels.

Entering the 10th, the game was knotted at 1-1, by way of a pitcher’s duel between starters Justin Masterson and C.J. Wilson, who pitched seven strong innings apiece.

After a fine, first inning, Masterson got himself in trouble in the second, opening the door for the Angels to strike first. Masterson hit Erick Aybar to start the frame, but Aybar wasn’t on the base paths for long when he was gunned down trying to steal second base by Yan Gomes. Howie Kendrick followed with a one-out double off the right field wall and moved to third on a Raul Ibanez ground out to third. Kendrick then scored on a wild pitch by Masterson to put the Angels up early 1-0.

Masterson leads the American League in hit batsmen (9) and is third in wild pitches (9).

The Tribe wasted no time and evened the score in the third inning. Gomes led off the inning with a single and came around to score on a Michael Bourn ground out to tie the game at 1-1. Lonnie Chisenhall followed Gomes’ leadoff single by drawing a walk to give the Tribe runners at first and second with no outs. After failing to get down a sacrifice bunt, Mike Aviles grounded into a fielder’s choice to shortstop to move Gomes to third. Aviles then stole second base before Bourn brought home Gomes. Asdrubal Cabrera walked and Jason Kipnis flew out to left to end the inning.

The Angels threatened to take back the lead in the fourth but a Josh Hamilton running mistake and great catch by Ryan Raburn kept the score tied. Hamilton walked and Aybar singled to give the Angels two on and no outs. Kendrick then hit a sharp liner to right that looked like it was going to fall for a hit, but a diving Raburn gloved the ball and fired to second to double up Hamilton who was almost to third base.

After retiring the first two batters in the sixth inning, Wilson walked Santana and gave up a single to Raburn, but gathered himself to strike out Swisher and end the threat.

Masterson struggled to find control early on, throwing 73 pitches through the first four innings, however, the big righty calmed down to work an eight-pitch fifth, 13-pitch sixth, and strand an Angel runner on second in the seventh before being relieved by Marc Rzepczynski in the eighth. Masterson’s 116 pitches were the most he has thrown in a game this season. In seven innings of work, Masterson was charged with one run on four hits while walking three and striking out five.

In the eighth inning, Rzepczynski retired Chris Iannetta and Kole Calhoun before being relieved by Bryan Shaw to face Trout. Shaw walked Trout who then advanced to third on an Albert Pujols single. With runners on the corners and two outs, Terry Francona brought in Cody Allen to face Josh Hamilton. Hamilton battled, but Allen struck him out swinging to end the inning and keep the score tied.

Kevin Jepsen came on in relief of Wilson and pitched a scoreless eighth inning. Wilson was brilliant for the Angels, allowing one run on three hits while striking out six and walking four.

Allen stayed in the game to pitch a scoreless ninth. Former Indian Joe Smith relieved Jepsen in the ninth and looked at home on the mound, throwing 11 strikes on 12 pitches. David Murphy, pinch-hitting for Raburn, led off the inning with a grounder to second, but Aybar botched the ball, allowing Murphy to reach safely. Swisher flied out to center and Gomes struck out swinging. With two outs, Chisenhall dropped a single into left field to give the Tribe runners on first and second. Smith didn’t flinch, though, and struck out Aviles to send the game into extra innings.

Scott Atchison took the ball from Allen in the 10th and retired the first two batters he faced. But Calhoun singled with two outs to bring Trout to the plate. Trout laced a double down the left field line to give the Angels runners on second and third for Pujols. Atchinson and Pujols battled, but with the shift on, Pujols tapped a grounder through the right side to give the Angels a 3-1 lead.

The never-say-die Indians battled back in the 10th. Cam Bedrosian, who came on in relief of Joe Smith, walked Bourn and then struck out Cabrera before Kipnis doubled to deep center to give the Tribe runners on second and third with one out. Santana then walked to load the bases. Ernesto Frieri relieved Bedrosian and got Murphy to fly out for out number two. Swisher, 0-for-4 with three strikeouts on the afternoon, stepped to the plate and lifted a fastball over the right field wall for a walk-off grand slam and series victory.

Rookie left-hander Kyle Crockett (1-0) relieved Atchison and retired Hamilton to close out the 10th inning and pick up his first major league win. Bedrosian (0-1) took the loss for the Angels.

Cleveland improved upon their own the league-best, home winning percentage in the majors, going 23-12 (.657) at Progressive Field this season.

The Indians open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers on Friday night (7:05pm) at Progressive Field. Corey Kluber (6-4, 3.35), who finished the month of May 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA, is currently listed as the probable starter for the Tribe. Right-hander Rick Porcello (8-4, 4.03 ERA) will take the mound for Detroit.